Angola pours millions into African Nations Cup

Oil-rich Angola is pouring millions of dollars into new stadiums, hotels and airports to get ready for the 2010 African Nations Cup, which officials say will kick off on schedule in less than 12 months.

The decision to award Nations Cup – known as CAN – to Angola surprised some who did not believe the former Portuguese colony could get itself ready in time, having only ended a 27-year civil war in 2002.

But according to the organising committee, stadium construction is running to schedule and preparations are well underway.

“In relation to the construction of stadiums, the schedule will be met,” CAN’s marketing director Manuel Mariano told journalists after a meeting with top government officials last week.

Four new stadiums in Benguela, Lubango, Cabinda and the capital Luanda, where the final will be held, are being built by Chinese construction companies.

While no figures have been released about the costs of organising the three-week tournament or building the stadiums, the national airport company says it’s spending more than 270 million dollars refitting and rebuilding airports in Luanda, Benguela and Lubango.

A major priority for organisers after the stadiums is making sure there is enough accommodation. Currently hotel rooms in Angola are few and far between, costing as much as 300 dollars a night and booked up months in advance.

According to the organising committee, 30 hotels are being built, 16 of them in Luanda, and ordinary Angolans will rent rooms to visitors.

Another key concern is the potential cost to visitors because Luanda, according to London-based human resources consultant ECA International, is the most expensive city in the world with a litre of milk costing three dollars and a pizza and beer as much as 50 dollars.

The committee has also pledged to make sure the notoriously difficult visa application process would be looked at to prevent delays for spectators coming to Angola.

But, perhaps used to the daily challenges of bad roads, high prices and lack of services, most Angolans are confident the competition will be a success.

Silvio Capuepue, an Angolan sports journalist, believes the Nations Cup is a catalyst for development.

“Hosting the 2010 Nations Cup is without a doubt speeding up the reconstruction of the country after the war, especially in the host cities,” he said.

“Angolans are happy and are conscious of the magnitude of the event. People are starting to see an impact in their normal lives, those that had no jobs for such a long time are now having jobs and are being able to bring money home.

“And in terms of the football, hosting the tournament motivates and grooms the growing talents that are coming up in the country.”

He said he was confident the stadiums would be ready on time and that the organisation would run smoothly.

“We have hosted three African basketball tournaments and two handball tournaments so I believe we have the experience. In 2007 people did not think we would be ready in time for Afrobasket, but we were. With the same strength, the same capacity and the same willing, we will make sure we are ready.”

Angola’s national team – known as Palancas Negras after the country’s extremely rare sable antelope – have had a tough time on the pitch and failed to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

A coaching reshuffle saw Mabi de Almeida take over from Luis Oliveira Goncalves and he has pledged to do his best for the home crowd during the 2010 tournament.

Angola’s Prime Minister Paulo Kassoma said last week that hosting the tournament would boost the country’s self esteem and appealed to Angolans to support their national team.

“It’s our responsibility to win the 2010 Nations Cup and prove we are Angolan. We want to show the capacity of Angolans to organise high-level competitions.”

The tournament is played every two years and was won by Egypt for a record sixth time in Ghana last year.

This will be the first Nations Cup hosted by a Portuguese-speaking country.